The sun sank slowly below the horizon, casting long shadows upon the earth. Lumis and Eili moved silently, carefully observing every detail around them. The echoes of the old world they thought were destroyed were now making themselves known again—and they needed to find the source.
— This piece of metal… — began Lumis, holding the find that still radiated a faint warmth. The metal shimmered with a soft light, as if responding to his touch.
— It hides something. I can feel it.
— It’s more than just a fragment, — Eili replied, her expression serious. — It’s a key. The question is, to what?
They stopped at the foot of a hill where a path led into a dark forest. The trees twisted together, forming a corridor shrouded in shadow. It felt as though this forest was alive, filled with invisible whispers.
— Do you hear that? — Eili asked, straining her ears.
Lumis nodded. A soft hum, almost imperceptible, emanated from the depths of the forest. It resembled the sound of machinery, yet it felt natural, as if the forest itself was breathing.
— It’s here, — he said. — Something remains active.
They stepped onto the path, immersing themselves in the coolness beneath the trees. Each step sounded loud in the thick silence. The humming grew stronger, and the air around them filled with a sense of unease.
Suddenly, the metal in Lumis’s hand burst forth with brilliant light, and a spark flew from it, landing on the ground. Where the spark touched the grass, a strange structure revealed itself—a small mechanism that resembled a fragment of a clock.
— It’s a trap, — Eili whispered, leaning closer to the find.
— No, it’s a message, — Lumis countered, touching the mechanism.
As his fingers brushed against it, they were enveloped by a wave of visual images: crumbling buildings, clocks turning backward, and voices repeating one word: “Return.”
— The system hasn’t vanished, — Lumis said, lifting his head. — It’s just hiding.
Eili looked at him, her gaze filled with anxiety.
— We must stop this before it’s too late.
— And we will stop it, — he replied. — But for that, we need to understand how it’s coming back.
They stood up, cautiously taking the fragment with them, and continued down the path. The echoes of the past continued to resonate, and every step brought them closer to the truth—and perhaps to new dangers.